The Pope has blamed the recent riots on the erosion of moral values in Britain and warned the Coalition that more trouble was likely if it did not bring down unemployment and spread wealth more fairly.
The pope spoke out as he welcomed Britain’s new ambassador to the Vatican, Nigel Baker, on what was his 43rd birthday.
Mr Baker presented his letters of credential to the Pontiff in a colourful ceremony at his summer lakeside residence.
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Violence must never be carried out in God’s name Pope Benedict insisted as he marked the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. “The tragedy of that day is compounded by the perpetrators’ claim to be acting in God’s name,” he said. In a letter sent a letter to Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, Read more
Correcting the behavior of those gone astray is an essential part of Christian life, said Pope Benedict XVI in his Angelus address.
“This approach is called fraternal correction: it is not a reaction to injury suffered, but is moved by love for one’s brother,” said the Pope to pilgrims gathered at his summer residence of Castel Gandolfo.
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The day before Cardinal Joseph Ratziner was elected pope, the US embassy at the Vatican said he appeared to lack sufficient support. The statement was made in an unclassified diplomatic cable, and is one of many documents made public in the latest release of Wikileaks documents. “Despite a week of media speculation suggesting that German Read more
Pope Benedict XVI is dedicating the month of September to praying that teachers are able to hand on moral values to students and that Christian communities in Asia are able to share the Gospel. Pope Benedict’s general prayer intention for September is: “That all teachers may know how to communicate love of the truth and Read more
Catholic officials are signalling not to expect any ecumenical breakthroughs when Pope Benedict honours the 16th Century Protestant reformer, Martin Luther, during his state visit to Germany this month. Benedict will use the visit to stress ecumenical cooperation, meet Protestant leaders and tour a monastery in Erfurt where Luther once worked and prayed, and while Read more
Pope Benedict told his former students meeting to discuss the new evangelisation, that his generation, cradle Catholics did not evangelise enough. Gathered for their annual seminar with the pontiff at Castel Gandolfo, Benedict said. “We, who have been able to know [Christ] since our youth, may we ask forgiveness because we bring so little of Read more
Just before flying out of Madrid, Pope Benedict took time out and stopped at the Madrid IFEMA conference centre to say thanks to the 14,000 volunteers who worked to stage World Youth Day. “With your service, you have shown the face of kindness, friendliness and commitment to others,” the the 84 year old pope said. Read more
Pope Benedict braved thunder, lightning, strong winds and torrential rain to preside at the 2011 WYD vigil prayer service. “Be proud of the gift of faith which you have received, as it will illumine your life at every moment,” the Pope said to 1.5 million young people at Cuatro Vientos air base on the outskirts Read more
The arrival of Pope Benedict, World Youth Day in Madrid moved up a gear and in Benedict’s words, Madrid has become the capital of the world for youth. Amid the heat of the burning sun, the 1.5 – 2 million pilgrims, the need for water, all didn’t seem to matter to Jo Anne Rowney who Read more